Method for the manufacture of metal tubes



June 10, 1930.

E. J. GULICK METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed- June 29, 1928 gmentoz June 10, 1930.. i E. J. GULICK 1,763,582

METHOD FOR THEMANUFACTURE 0F METAL TUBES Filed June 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'nfoz Patented June 10, 1930 i I UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. G'ULIGK, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. G. CONN, LTD., 01? ELK- HART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL 'ID'IBES Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to the manufacture of sheet metal tubes, and especially curved or bent tubes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a method for the manufacture of tubular sheet elbows or curved tubes by forming two half tube sections by fluid pressure and Welding the joints together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the manufacture of a tapered two piece longitudinally jointed sheet metal elbow or bend by forming the two half sections thereof in a mould by fluid pressure.

Other and more specific objects of the in vention are mentioned anddescribed herein.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 illustrates two views of a tapered sheet metal elbow made according to my improved method;

Fig. 2 illustratestwo views of a right and left hand rudimentary sheetmetal blank from which the elbow is made;

Fig. 3. illustrates three views of the condition of the two rudimentary sheets after the first mduld operation thereon;

Fig. 4 illustrates a top plan view of the right and left hand mould units;

Fig. 5 is'a side elevation of one of the mould units;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of the lower mould illustrated in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the tube illustrated in Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a tapered two piece sheet metal elbow or bend made in halves under my improved method, and numerals 2 and 3 indicate, respectively, a right and left hand rudimentary ductile sheet *metal blankfrom which each half section of the v tube is formed by hydraulic or fluid pressure. While the blanks 2 and 3 are shown as right and left hand elements it is obvious that a reversal of either blank will produce 1928. Serial No. 289,245.

the other form, except as each blank may i semi-circular in cross-section, Fig. 6. As illustrated, the recess 8 in the mould section 4 is tapered longitudinally to produce the tube half section 9 shown in Fig. 3, as here,- inafter described.

The mould unit 5 has its lower section formed with a recess 8 to correspond in dimension with that of unit 4, but of right hand formation, and the rough tube half section 10 (Fig. 3) is formed therein, as hereinafter described. Each top motion 6 of the mould units 4 and 5 has a pipe 11 connected with a conduit 12 therein for the introduction of water, or other fluid, under pressure to the recess or chamber 8 to operate upon either of the blanks 2 or 3.

Inasmuch as the method of forming both the right and left hand tube half sections is the same the description of the operation of one of the mould units will sufiice for both, it is believed. In the practical application of my improved method a curved blank 2 is placed between the top and bottom sections 6 and 7 'of the mould 4 to completely cover the recess 8. The mould is then locked together by a suitable clamp or press'not. shownto clamp the blank 2 therebetween, Thereupon, fluid pressure,

preferably hydraulic, is applied to through pipe 11 to the upper surface of said blank, causing the latter to be bulged and pressed into the recess 8 and to assume the contour thereof, as represented bythe condition of said blank in Figures 3 and 6. As indicated in Fig. 6 the blank 2 is now semi-circular in ture is to remove the end sections 15, and 16 on approximately lines A-A and B--B, respectively; and the fin 13. The right hand half section 10 of the tube is produced in the mould 5 in the same manner and its end sections 15 and 16 andfin 13 are removed, as described for the left hand section. Thereupon, the two tube half sections 14 and 14:

are welded or brazed together at their longitudinal joints 17 and 18 (Fig. 7) and the tube is then ready for plating and polishing. I claim:

1. In the method of making a tube in halves, the steps consisting of forming a pair of rudimentary blanks of fiat ductile sheet metal, then forming cooperating tube half sections of said blanks by applying fluid under pressure to said blanks, then removing the excess stock from the sides and ends of said half sections, and then welding said half sections together at their longitudinal joints.

2. In the method of making a tube in halves, the steps consisting of formin a air of rudimentary blanks of flat ducti e s eet metal, then forming right and left hand cooperating half tube sections of said blanks by applying fluid under pressure on one side thereof, then'removin the fins and end ortions of said half sectlons, and then wel in said half sections together at their longitudinal joints.

3. The method of making a tubular elbow in halves which comprises the formation of a pair of rudimentary blanks of flat ductile sheet metal, then formin right and left hand cooperating curved alt tube sections of said blanks by the a plication of fluid under pressure on one si e thereof, then removin the excess stock from the sides and ends 0 said half sections, and then welding sald half sections together at their longitudinal joints.

4. The method of 'making a tapered tubular elbow in halves which comprises the for-.

mation of a npgir of curved, tapered rudimentary bla of flat ductile sheet metal, then forming right and left hand coo erating curved half tube sections of' said b anks by the application of fluid under pressure on one s1 e thereof, then removing the excess stock from the sides and ends of said half sections and then weldin said half sections together at their longitu 'nal joints.

EDWARD J. GULICK. 

